Going to Temple, a tale of inspiration.....

Passover begins tonight as I write about my trip to Temple. But it is not the Temple of the Jews or the Ancient Greeks who sought solace and inspiration in their temples that I write of. No, this contemporary Temple is not a building, but like traditional temples this Temple radiates something spiritual, something uplifting, and something remarkable. Just like the Ancient Jews and Ancient Greeks, I made a pilgrimage to "My" Temple. Curious?

I went to see Temple, Temple Grandin deliver a lecture at a dog trainer's conference outside of Austin Texas. My trip to Temple was as inspiring and as spiritual a pilgrimage as I could ever hope to have. It was after all, a presentation that celebrated life, the life of animals, and the means by which we can each and every one of us improve our communication with our four legged friends. Move over Dr. Dolittle, Temple Grandin Does A Lot! Temple Grandin communicates with animals, and she is hell bent on sharing her secrets.

I sat transfixed as I gazed at an extraordinary women share her wisdom, her passion, and her reverence for animals. She stood tall sporting a red silk tie, a black shirt, innumerable canine and bovine styled bold brass colored pins across her western wear matching black blouse. She wore cowgirl styled black Levis and black leather low heeled shoes. Her mannerisms, her passion and her character has recently been personified in the HBO movie "Temple Gradin" in which Claire Danes provides an amazing portrait of this remarkable woman.

For those of you unfamiliar with Temple Grandin, let me summarize. Temple Grandin is now a highly functioning autistic woman whose life work has been dedicated to understanding, communicating, and bettering the life condition of animals. Like animals, Temple was greatly misunderstood by many of her peers due to her Autism. Temple did not speak a word until four years of age and only then in part due to the commitment of her mother, special teachers and extended family as well as her own personal struggle. Temple could have easily spent her life starring off into space, distant and attached to a world far beyond ours, dissociating, remote, and seemingly inert. But she didn't.

Temple has persevered with the help of some amazing teachers and mentors to pursue and attain excellent communication skills, a PHD is animal Science, and currently holds a post as professor at Colorado State University. Temple is the author of many articles both academic and commercial as well as a healthy list of non-ficton books speaking on the subjects she knows best, animals and autism. With her unique perspective, heavily influenced by her sensory condition, Temple has shed light on the senses and perception of animals, as only she can.

I first caught a glimpse of Temple in 2003, when I heard her being interviewed on NPR for her work with cattle and livestock at our nations feed lots. Temple's interest in the well being of cattle has resulted in some two thirds of the nations feed lots, and slaughter houses having been redesigned by her to be more humane. Her design work has reduced unnecessary and often fatal bovine accidents. She has converted the meat packing industrialists to see that her persepective also means an improvement in their bottom line. She has taken her case against cattle prods while increasing profits, an argument even the gruffest cattle man can't argue with. " If we are going to raise them so that we can consume them we owe them respect" is her argument..... and so she has, reducing violence and dangerous and painful accidents throughout our nations slaughter houses and feed lots.

I crossed path's with Temple's work more recently when a a client had shared her reading of Animals in Translation and "Animals Make Us Human." That same week, I watched "Temple Grandin" several times on HBO. It made an enormous impact, and so when I received an email (at the close of yes that very same syncronistic week) inviting me to attend an Austin based canine professional conference featuring Temple as a guest speaker, I plumb packed my bags!

In her address to the IACP annual conference, Temple tackled a number of subjects such as Canine Emotions.......for those who have argued dogs don't have feelings, think and feel again. Prozac works on Dogs! Emotions are located in the sub cortical brain, an area that is similar among all mammals as well as the presence of neurotransmitters. Temple went on to outline the core emotions of Fear, Rage, Panic, Seeking. Seeking plays a crucial roll in the well being of dogs. Long walks and new experiences in which the dogs sensitive olfactory sense (eighty percent of the dogs' brain is devoted to smell) and play arouse their seeking system as well as reducing stress through physical activity. Temple implored dog owners to not leave their dogs locked up in a crate all day log, and encouraged people to have two dog households to provide companionship....citing Dr. Patricia McConnell (PHD and dog behaviorist and trainer) claims that social needs are as important as their need for food and water, but also stating that dogs do best in two dog households as competition and aggression can escalate in dog households with more than two canines.

I spoke to Temple several times during the conference. I found her to be friendly, enthusiastic, and engaged! She fervently recommends exercise and Omega Threes to both humans and hounds. I listened to her outline how she turned her condition into an asset, borrowing from her autistic proclivity for single minded focus into a means to solve problems.

Temple stood in front of me.... a woman who has achieved more than most through the careful and systematic commitment to bettering herself and the world to whom she wishes to share her gifts. And she has.................I just hope I get a chance to go to Temple once again. (to learn more about Temple Grandin just click on the title of this article and you will be redirected to her official website http://www.templegrandin.com/templehome.html)

Emma Comes Home

For the last couple of months I have attended "Puppy Raising Classes" at the Santa Fe, New Mexico based Assistance Dogs of the West. It's a volunteer program which assists this laudable non-profit in the training of their adolescent dogs in training. It's been a fascinating ride learning the dog vocabulary (these dogs know an impressive 90 separate commands) devoid of body signals that traditional dog training languages embrace. After all, the handicapped may not have use of limbs we take take for granted.

Last week Emma, a delightful and petite 1 1/2 year old golden Retriever came home for a four night stay. At home, Emma met Gabriel and Dakota, my Great Pyrenees as well as my husband, Larry. The dogs frolicked together, determined pecking order, gathered ground outside for our outings.

On our first dog outing Emma, although the youngest, demonstrated that she is by far the fastest across the field, leaving her Clydesdale built Pyre's in the dust. Both Gabriel and Dakota and I marvel at the instantaneous response a long distance "come" generates. If she were not a dog, she could have been a barrel racer based upon the quick turns and sudden stops she pulls off. Then there is the softer quieter side of Emma, the personality adopted in the indoors while she is "working". Slight and seemingly smiling Emma sits at my feet poised for a pat, a treat, or simply a simple "yes" in return to a steady stream of impressive behaviors. Alongside her impressive behavioral resume is the lightness in her radiant presence.

When asked Emma retrieves fallen objects (keys, paper, you name it) and hands them to me, "gets dressed" by slipping her slender head into her collar attached to her leash. Should her leash fall to the ground she hands it to me. As I wander from room to room she politely shadows my every move, sittting oh so quietly under the table, by my left, or out front as I request. At thresholds she waits and looks to me for instruction, walks loose leash in perfect heeling symmetry, pauses prior to gracefully entering and exiting my vehicle, flips my lightswitches (our house was built according to Handicapped specifications with lower light switches), places her head in my lap to "visit", places both paws on any service upon request, and shows no indications of bruttish, stubborn, or bored reluctance. At night she holds a position as senteniel on the tile floor to my left. She is quiet, unobtrusive, and consistently upbeat and shows no agressiveness nor diviseness with my much larger dogs.

She is the perfect guest, and an inspiration to all in this household. The only problem I see is how to train a Great Pyrenees to be that attentive and unobtrusive, oh what was I thinking. Vive la difference!

Our second weekend is drawing to a close. El Nino is delivering yet another Sunday night Snow Shower as Gabriel and Emma lie side by side in deep slumber, the crackling cedar and pinon serenading these proud pups. They have shared a day hiking outdoors, music and repose, and the wonders of raw bones.

There is rumor that Emma may soon find a permanent post utilizing her skills and training. In the meantime, Gabriel, Dakota, my husband and I find it a great thrill to share in her care.

Gabriel, my big white Angel

A year and a half ago, I lost my nine year old Great Pyrenees, Brewster, to cancer. I had had him since he was a wee pup of six weeks and driven him from a breeder in the small town of Corydon Indiana to my then farm in Kentucky. It was a rainy day, and Brewster had been surrounded by a village of Great Pyrenees, his mother, and a series of aunts and Uncles in a large kennel. He was Jolly and loving and our life's paths crescendo ed for nine sweet years. He was a soulful dog who epitomized unconditional love through his incessant cheerful and loving ways.

In the summer of 2008, Brewster was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. In June, he was given a sentence of two months to live. As June, July and August passed Brewster never complained but continued to drop weight and was moving much more gingerly. By early October, it became clear he was in great pain from an inoperable abdominal tumor which had made walking an impossibility. My husband had lifted Brewster's dwindling frame from the macadam the night before and we knew that it was time to say goodbye. The following day, with the help of our veterinarian, I held Brewster's paw as life passed from his fluffy white body. I sobbed as I looked the stationary body. It was his shell now, and nothing more. I left diminished, inconsolable, and left the vet's office having been told that Brewster's ashes would be provided to me in the weeks to follow.

The indelible hole that Brewster' passing created did not diminish but rather grew in the months that followed.
By the end of December it was clear that the only way to reduce my grief and celebrate Brewster's life was to find a Great Pyrenees in need of a home.

On December 30, 2008, I contacted a Great Pyrenees Rescue volunteer, Reena whom I had adopted then five year old Dakota from in the Spring of 2001. (a wonderful photo of Dakota and Oscita can be found on the blog) She told me that there were no Pyrs in need of a home as of yet, but that she would be in touch should one come up.

My husband and I flew to Hawaii the following day for some work and some fun. Not twenty four hours later an email came from Reena stating that she had received word from a woman named Lisa who was needing to find a home for her one year old Great Pyrenees Gabriel. Her husband was in the military and because of the economy had elected to stay in the military and had been assigned another tour. They no longer had the large farm house nor roots stateside to provide Gabriel the home and space he needed. They were heartbroken but committed to finding him a forever home.

Within the next forty two hours we exchanged emails and photos and and January 11th was established as the day she and her husband would drive up from El Paso to deliver Gabriel to us. He licked me on the face immediately. He was warm and friendly and beautiful. Bashful was not a word in his canine vocabulary. With tears and hugs Lisa and her husband left, leaving me and Gabriel, Dakota and my husband Larry to form a new family.

In the months that followed Gabriel and I attended obedience classes, took many long walks, and shared a great deal of quality time together. Gabriel was always by my side, always looking out for me and over me, just as the angel Gabriel was said to have done. I was followed from room to room, from outside to inside and back. His large soulful eyes looked deep and still into mine. I felt as if I had know this beautiful creature for years already.

In the course of the last year and two months Gabriel and I have developed a special bond. I feel fortunate to have been given a very special gift in Gabriel. His very presence affected all in his midst. A month ago, an area Shelter Volunteer Coordinator had met Gabriel on a daily walk and suggested that he would be perfect for community service. She explained that once he had passed the AKC Good Citizen Test, he would be eligible to participate in a community outreach program.

Gabriel and I were game. We made plans to immediately take the test, feeling confident that our training exercises would have him sail through the test and Voila, Gabriel passed the test in one fell swoop.

Yesterday was our first visit to an area nursing home. We walked into the nursing home behind a parade of two large Swiss Mountain Dogs avoiding elders in walkers and those not accustomed to dogs weighing over 150 pounds!

We waited for the elders to arrive and visit in an internal room devoid of windows. Gabriel noticed a man sitting on a sofa just off the room we were waiting it. He indicated a visit would be welcome. Gabriel walked loose leashed around a bank of sofas and came around to the elderly gentleman. His smile, genuine and broad looked down upon the joyful face of Gabriel, open mouthed and eager to please. The man spoke to Gabriel as if to a long lost friend he was eager to reconnect with. He thrust his elderly head clad in eyeglasses into a tuft of white fur in Gabriel's side and he held him. I felt my throat tighten and breathed in order to avoid a personal indiscretion. No tears for first visits!

The gentleman thanked us both for the visit. I knew why I had come. More importantly, I knew why Gabriel had come to visit and I was glad.